The Mermaid Chair

I liked this book a lot. I wanted more of an epilogue to see what happened to some of the characters. I loved the descriptions of the island and the legend of the chair. Would recommend!

It took too long to reach the climax. The plot was ok.

I love Sue Monk Kidd's work, but really could have lived without this book. Tho it held some degree of interest, it just kept lacking meaning or purpose. And neither the writing or narration came near the genius of Secret Life of Bees or Invention of Wings, both of which i found to be phenomenal and important.

It takes a LONG TIME to get going. There are a ton of characters. And the story is a little predictable. But the plot is well defined. There is some intriguing action, and the imagery is real. Add a good narator and you have a good book for the read. Not in the class with Secret Life of Bees, but good nonetheless.

I really enjoyed this one. This is the sort of experience that keeps me renting audiobooks.

A warm story of transition allowing anyone to find meaning.

This book was a good read, In some places it left something to be desired but overall I was glad to listen to it, ending I did not expect.

After the listening to The Secret Life of Bees, I couldn't wait to hear The Mermaid Chair. I have to say that I was quite disappointed and almost didn't finish listening to the book. I found the main character to be very unsympathetic. We so often hear the story of the man with the midlife crisis who trades in his old wife and boring life for something new and exciting. This story isn't much different, even though the main character is female. The setting and main character's childhood issues add an interesting flavor to the story, but I don't recommend it.

I loved Sue Monk Kidds book the secret life of bees but was very disappointed with the Mermaid Chair.

This book was engaging and it got better as it went along. The recent movie did not do the book justice at all so don't use that as an indicator.

I liked this book. It's not as compelling as The Secret Life of Bees, but I still enjoyed the story. It's about healing and love, especially loving yourself.

Now I understand why Harper Lee never wrote another book. This books was such a disappointment after The Secret Life of Bees. It wasn't anything more than a shallow romance novel. I honestly don't understand how the author could spend as much time with this self-absorbed, yawningly boring heroine as she did.

The Mermaid Chair was ok, not as good as The Secret Life Of Bees. If I had read this one first I don't think I would have read Secret Life of Bees, and that was excellent. If you haven't read Sue Monk Kidd, read Secret Life of Bees. This book is slow, and it drags on and on. I had to make myself listen to the rest of the book, I didn't even want to start the second set of discs...almost sent it back. Ok story, but a snoozer, don't listen to it to stay awake driving...won't happen!

This book seemed to me a little too shallow and I found the reader much less charming than the Secret Life of Bees BUT I have to say I found myself becoming more interested in the story as it went on. The relationships became more complex or perhaps it's fairer to say they were revealed as more complex as the main character stopped floundering and began to reach inside herself for answers.

Absolutely terrific! If you like great imagery, southern "characters," good mystery, and nuanced writing, you'll love The Mermaid's Chair.

The Mermaid's Chair comes nowhere near the The Secret Life of Bees. The story is painstakingly slow. In retrospect, I would listen to the abridged version.

Disappointing, especially after enjoying Secret Life of Bees so much.

I could hardly get through this. I kept thinking it had to get better (It didn't). Kidd's other novel, The Secret Lives of Bees, was so great and meaningful. This was so beneath her. In part it read like a common romance novel. The narrator's voice added to the whole annoying tone of this book.